Territorial A-Z

Letter, [Orville] Chester [Brown] to My dear friendAuthors:Brown, Orville Chester, 1811-1904Date: September 2, 1856This eloquent letter, presumably written by Orville Chester Brown, provides an example of the free state perspective on the events of 1856. It includes references to a number of key personalities and places that played a vital role during the struggle for Kansas. Brown writes that "Kansas is the scene of bloody strife," as "2000 armed men" from Missouri were rumored to have crossed into Kansas.

Keywords:Border ruffians; Brown, Spencer; Free state perspective; Georgia; Missouri; ViolenceAccount of the Battle of OsawatomieAuthors:Brown, Spencer KelloggDate: c. 1856This account of the battle and its aftermath, written by Spencer Kellogg Brown, was compiled from his shorthand diary. It describes the battle and his experiences as a young teenager taken prisoner by pro-slavery forces. He traveled with the Missouri troops and their other prisoners, and then for several weeks he lived under house arrest with Dr. James Keith from Lexington, Missouri. This particular account is unique because it gives very detailed descriptions of how ordinary citizens became entangled in the fighting.